Writers, learn how to create new, old and imagined worlds.
A masterclass for writers of any genre that involves either accurately presented realist settings, or imagined places, futures or pasts.
May 16, 2026, in person, in Melbourne.
Find out more and book here: newpagewriting.com/2026/04/06/w...
😃
Yes, thanks for asking, I do have several historical novels underway at present. No, of course that's not what I'm writing - inexplicably writing scifi short stories for months and having the absolute best time.
(Also yes, don't panic, @daniellebinks.bsky.social, I will finish the novels very soon.)
‘In This Labyrinth’ by Najwan Darwish is poem of the day:
I said these words weren’t needed
as I was sitting there,
where the road veered sharply,
without thinking for a moment
that it might only be a gentle winding.
poets.org/poem/labyrin...
This is shocking news. Literary magazines - and all the other small orgs now under pressure or closing or gone - are the bedrock of culture and their ongoing costs are barely a blip in any institutional budget. Melbourne University ought to be ashamed www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/04/m...
Sophie Cunningham:"universities are no longer spaces that support or nurture literature or the arts in this country. Certainly universities have, in the last several years, shown themselves unable to manage robust debates or the complexities of freedom of speech.”
www.crikey.com.au/2025/09/04/m...
Last chance to book! Fundamentals for fiction writers: the Writer's Toolbox. It's a short course with me, starts August 27, live online. Places are limited.
newpagewriting.com/2025/07/29/w...
"The obligations imposed upon festival speakers in the Bendigo Writers Festival Code of Conduct are wide-ranging and inappropriate... Authors are engaged by festivals precisely because of their expression of ideas." @asauthors.bsky.social statement.
www.asauthors.org.au/news/author-...
It's taken me a while to get this post together, but hopefully lots of food for thought on the current state of the book market in Australia. Some brilliant tips from literary agents and more for aspiring authors out there. #author #books
annafeatherstone.com/the-australi...
📣 New podcast!
In this episode of The Writing Life podcast, award-winning writer Val McDermid shares insights on writing contemporary crime fiction, and the importance of learning patience as a writer.
Produced by National Centre for Writing.
🎧 Listen now: buff.ly/kWAhMQP
You too! An excellent day.
Support Bookish in Bendigo, official Bendigo Writers Festival bookseller who would have spent months stocking books for the event and have pulled out in solidarity. Call them for your next book order if you can, or even pay it forward for one of their customers.
+61 3 5406 0596
Funny thing is, we were going to talk a lot about metaphor. The entire panel withdrew.
Did you know 85% of Kiwis say libraries improve their happiness and wellbeing?
The results are in from PLNZ’s latest Community Impact Survey — and the data confirms public #libraries uplift us all #impact
Spoke to the ABC for this story on Bendigo writers festival & code of conduct overreach. Festivals should not be policing authors’ speech. @asauthors.bsky.social
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Thank you!
This 👇🏻 Please support Bookish. It’s a beautiful little shop.
Yeah, it's one way to get us to talk louder, right? Thanks.
Graphic that says: It is utterly unacceptable to ask authors, illustrators and journalists to self-censor and avoid controversial topics. For many of us, our very lives are controversial to some people, and we write what we write for that reason. We cannot stop being who we are, or stop talking about why we write what we write. Any attempt to prevent people talking about the genocide in Gaza at this moment, in particular, is outrageous.
I always look forward to Bendigo Writers Festival. But not this year.
We are writers. What we do is express ideas freely.
Any attempt to prevent us doing that is censorship, and a dangerous precedent in the arts community.
I have withdrawn and I stand in solidarity with others who have withdrawn.
While international media remains locked out of Gaza, Palestinian journalists work under fire, starvation and sickness to report the reality on the ground.
Bookings close soon. Fiction writers, don't miss out!
It can take years to write a story, several more to sell it, and then several more for it to be published. And once it is published, there’s sadly no guarantee the story will find its readers. So if you’re writing stories, you better make sure you’re writing stories that you enjoy.
Bookings are now open for my new online short course, The Writer's Toolbox. Fundamentals, for emerging fiction writers. Starts late August.
newpagewriting.com/masterclasse...
Hello parents, guardians and care-givers, are you already thinking about book week 2026?
Well, here's some ideas from the Blackwords - @austlit.bsky.social team, because representation matters.
@magabalabooks.bsky.social
#bookweek #mobsky #booksky #kidlit #authors #representationatters
Starting a novel is exciting, but what happens when the momentum drops?
Our ultimate guide will help you push through the messy middle and finally reach 'The End' of your first draft.
👉 zurl.co/LL9JF
#AmWriting #FinishYourNovel #WritingTips #FirstDraft
We are thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2025 Lambda Literary Awards! lambdaliterary.org/2025/07/anno...
Checkout the playlist of presentations for this years #VirtualJaneCon and there are many great presentations from last year as well!
Oh, thank you, Kate! That means a lot to me.
